Mac & Cheese

[Mrs. Bradbury]

My 11 year old son is thrilled to have a thermos, of all things, for his lunch box this year. I never realized the child was so deprived . . . . . . anyway, he said he could bring mac & cheese in it, which is true, but I'm too big of a skinflint to buy those single serve packages of the stuff. Has anyone used a regular size box of Kraft and only cooked a single-serve portion? If so, I'm wondering how much of the powder to use. I'm thinking at most this thermos will hold close to a cup of cooked macaroni. Everything else I can eyeball, but I'm stumped about the cheese powder.

And maybe it's just me, but I think the blue box stuff is tasteless if it's reheated, so I don't want to make the whole thing and save the rest.

 

[Chicago526]

One standard box of Mac and Cheese makes 2 cups, so assuming you want to give him a full cup, I'd say using half a packet and half the macaroni (should messure out to 1/2 cup dry) should work out fine for you.

 

[NotUrsula]

When DS was in his m&c phase, I used to shake the cheese packet out flat so that the content was evenly distributed, then fold the packet in the middle. shake it down again, and tear it down the crease. One side was used, and the other saved until later. Use a measuring cup to determine how much macaroni is half a box, and use that measure consistently.

 

[Ava]

And maybe it's just me, but I think the blue box stuff is tasteless if it's reheated, so I don't want to make the whole thing and save the rest.

We put a little real cheese in to add flavor - either some grated cheddar if we have a block, or a slice of American broken up. You could try that, I think it tastes fine reheated with the bit of real cheese added in.

 

[mickeyluvr004]

maybe add alittle bit of butter also for added taste? that is what I do for my kids with leftovers and also some extra cheese my daughter loves to take a thermos with leftovers

 

[CajunDixie]

My son adds a bit of sour cream and cheddar when re-heating mac & cheese leftovers.

 

[dizkids]

I would also add try making the mac&cheese at home on a weekend and serve it to him a few hours later in the thermos....see if he still likes mac&cheese. We did the cooking in the a.m. and having it for lunch but it didnt go over too well in our house.

 

[chefkellyb]

Have you tried the "deluxe" mac and cheese with the squeeze packet of cheese? I think it tastes much, much better - even on day 2. It costs a little more money but I can usually stock up on it when it goes on sale and I've seen it in Walmart with very good prices.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Have you tried the "deluxe" mac and cheese with the squeeze packet of cheese? I think it tastes much, much better - even on day 2. It costs a little more money but I can usually stock up on it when it goes on sale and I've seen it in Walmart with very good prices.

You're right, it does taste better. But the little stinker thinks that there's too much cheese sauce in the deluxe kind. However, if I'm only cooking a single portion I can regulate that . . . and maybe stretch it with extra macaroni I have on hand, too . . . great idea! Thanks!

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Thanks everybody for your replies. I knew I could count on you guys! I will try all of your suggestions.

 

[micheleq]

Try Annie's Mac & Cheese. Much better than traditional! And I've reheated leftovers just fine with that brand. I buy in bulk at BJ's and it comes out to just a little more than regular M&C.

You're reminding me of my elementary schools days My mom would pack a thermos of spaghettios as a special treat. I don't think I could eat them now!! Ah, the 70's...

 

[lttlmc3]

You could make it from scratch. It's not hard (if I can do it, anyone can) and it's cheap.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

For my kids & grandkids, I've usually just melted Cheez Whiz over hot cooked macaroni. Now I can't stand the stuff but the grandkids still do. Maybe that would work because you could only make as much as will fit in the thermos.

For my mac & cheese fix I make a white sauce & add shredded cheddar etc. I found the recipe on the Creamettes box.

 

[dyna]

You can measure the cheese an then use half once you have done that you gonna know how much to use cause no matter the brand seems all the cheese packets same size.

 

[abirdd]

We use Annie's Mac and Cheese, and it tastes great the next day.

I don't know if this is doable in the US. Here in Canada we have a Bulk Barn that sells baking/cooking supplies. One of the big sellers is bulk cheese powder (in white cheddar or orange cheddar) - and it's substancially more cost effective than buying mac and cheese in boxes. Not sure if you can find the bulk powder in the US, but I'd think it might work for you.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I always made the whole box, put half in the refrigerator and served the leftovers to my son later in the week. When you reheat the mac and cheese you might need to add a little milk.

I also found out the trick for keeping the food warm until lunch. You have to heat up the food, prior to putting it in the thermos, as hot as possible. Just keep using the microwave to make it hotter and hotter. It should be too hot to touch before you put it into the thermos.

If you want to include silverware, versus plastic forks and spoons, insert some kind of cling wrap or ziplock for the messy silverware, otherwise it will get all over the lunch box.

My son was the hit of the lunch room table with all his yummy dinner leftovers.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

You could make it from scratch. It's not hard (if I can do it, anyone can) and it's cheap.

I do make it from scratch, but he prefers the powdered stuff!

My recipe, by the way, is from a Kraft cookbook that I got from Epcot, when Kraft sponsored the Land pavilion long ago. Veggie veggie fruit fruit - veggie fruit fruit! Aaaah, good times . . .

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Thanks everybody for the second round of suggestions. I really appreciate it!